Signal device and system therefor



March 2, 1937. H. J. FINDLEY 2,072,743

SIGNAL DEVICE AND SYSTEM THEREFOR Filed Sept. 14, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l A /9 g a INVENTOR.

Y g! W ATTORNEYS March 2, 1937. FlNDLEY 2,072,743

SIGNAL DEVICE AND SYSTEM THEREFOR Filed Sept. 14, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR. v flak 420 J fiwazir BY *W.

ATTORNEYS March 2, 1937.

H. J. FINDLEY 2,072,743

SIGNAL DEVICE AND SYSTEM THEREFOR Filed Sept. 14, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 V I I I l lIH INVENTOR. flan/420 J F/wuy BY W*W' ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES SIGNAL DEVICE AND SYSTEM THEREFOR Howard J. Findley, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Bishop & Babcoek Mfg. Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 14, 1933, Serial No. 689,413

10 Claims.

This invention relates to signal systems and apparatus and particularly to electrical systems and apparatus adapted to be installed upon a vehicle such for example as an automotive vehicle whereby the driver thereof may effect an audible signal to the driver of another vehicle or to other persons generally.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved signal system and apparatus of the class referred to.

Another object is to provide an improved signaling system and apparatus of the class referred to whereby audible signals of a distinctive character may be made.

Another object is to provide an improved system and apparatus whereby audible signals may be made having the character of a musical tone or tones.

Another object is to provide an improved signal system and apparatus whereby audible signals may be made having the character of a plurality of harmonious musical tones.

Another object is to provide a musical tone producing signal system and apparatus whereof the musical tones may be selectively changed and/or adjustably varied.

Another object is to provide an audible signal system and apparatus whereby a musical tone or tones may be produced in an improved manner.

Another object is to provide an improved signaling system and apparatus for producing a plurality of musical tone signals and having means for sounding the tones at will in any selective sequence whereby to produce audible signals having the character of tunes.

Another object is to provide, for electric signal systems and apparatus of the class or classes referred to hereinabove, an improved electric control circuit or circuits.

Another object is to provide, in an improved signaling system and apparatus for producing a plurality of musical tone signals at will, and

.selectively, an improved controller means for selecting the tones to be produced.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains.

My invention is fully disclosed in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view partly in crosssection of a sound-producing device which I may employ in the practice of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of one form of electric circuit which I may employ in connection with the device of Fig. 1 for electricallyenergizing the same;

Fig. 3 is a plan view illustrating an apparatus shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating another electric circuit or system which I may employ in connection with the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view to an enlarged scale of a controller means illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken from the plane 6-45 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an end elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 3; s

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic 'view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a modification;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to a part of Fig. 4 i1- iustrating a modification.

Referring to Fig. 1, I have illustrated at I, generally, a sound amplifying horn and at 2, generally, an electrically energizable sound-producing device responsive, upon the reception thereby of electric current impulses, to translate the same into sound waves for amplification by the sound amplifying horn I.

The horn I and device 2 may be variously constructed. In the illustrative example thereof of Fig. 1 I have shown at 3 and I housing elements having peripheral flanges 5 and 6 clamped together by bolts I and clamping therebetween a transversely vibratory diaphragm .8. Suitable annular rings 9-9 may be interposed between the diaphragm and the flanges.

Secured to a central portion of the diaphragm is a tubular winding support I 0 having wound thereon an armature winding II. The winding II extends inwardly axially between inwardly radially extending poles I2-I2 of an E-form electromagnetic circuit I3, the central pole ll of which extends axially into' the tubular support I 0 and therefore into the winding H. A field winding I5 is provided on the central pole I4 and thus when energized generates magnetism in the gap between the poles I2 and the central I4.

In a manner well known in the art, impulses of current directed into the winding I I will cause it to move axially and vibrate the diaphragm 8 by reaction of the current In the winding I I upon. the magnetic field in which it is disposed as above described. The sound thereby produced by the diaphragm 8 is amplified by the horn I, the air column in the horn communicating with the air in contact with the diaphragm 8, in a chamber pole i6 provided between the diaphragm and the housing portion 3.

Circuit wires l1 and I8 and circuit wires [9 and 26 are, respectively, led into the housings 3-4 to energize the field winding l5 and the armature winding II respectively in a manner to be described.

Referring to Fig. 2, I have indicated diagram-- matically the diaphragm 8, the field magnet l3, armature winding field winding l5, the field circuit wires l1 and I8 and the armature winding circuit wires I9 and 20.

A source of current such as a storage battery 2| is provided, connected at one terminal to the wire l8 and at the other terminal by a wire 22 to ground.

It is one of the advantages of my invention that it is particularly applicable to motor vehicles; and in such applications, the storage battery of the vehicle may be advantageously employed as the battery 2|.

At 23 is indicated a switch of the push button type' having a terminal connected by a wire24 to ground and another terminal. connected to the wire IT. The switch 23 may be disposed at any convenient point, such for example as upon or adjacent to the steering wheel 26 of a motor vehicle, and may be of any suitable construction to be conveniently closed and opened by the vehicle driver.

Connected in parallel relation between the wires H and I9 is a plurality, such as four, devices 2525, illustrated diagrammatically for simplicity. Each device comprises an electromagnet or a pair of electromagnets 26-26, a vibratory reed element 21 rigidly supported at one end as at 28 and carrying on its free or vibrating portion an armature 29 disposed to be attracted by the electromagnets 26-26. On the free end portion of the reed 21 is a contact 30 movable therewith engageable with the stationary contact 3| preferably supported on the end of a screw 32 adjustably threaded in a stationary support 33. The electromagnets 26 are connected in series with the contacts 3|l-3| across the wires i1 and I9, the reed 21 forming part of the circuit.

By this arrangement, current fiowing in the windings of the electromagnets 26 will attract the armature 29 and break the circuit at 36-3| whereupon the reed will retract and again close the circuit. The reed therefore will vibrate back and forth interrupting the current in the wires |1--|9, causing current impulses to flow therein. The reed 21 may have a normal periodicity of vibration and this may be adjustably changed through a limited range by a screw 34 threaded through a stationary support 35 and abutting at an end portion 36 upon the reed 21, as shown for the reed 21.

Each of the devices 25 may be of the construction just described and preferably the reeds 21, 21A, 21B, 21C of the four devices are of different lengths to provide different vibratory periodicity for each reed.

As will now be apparent from the foregoing description, upon closing the switch 23, current may flow fromthe battery 2| through the field winding l5 over'the wire l1 and through the switch 23 to ground, thus completing the circuit and energizing the field of the sound-producing device 2. Current may also flow from the battery :I through the wire 20 energizing the armature winding H, and this current flows through the wire i9 and through each of the devices 25, that is to say, through the contacts and windings thereof to the wire l1, and thence through the switch 23 to ground.

The devices 25 operate automatically as above described to interrupt the current in the circuit of the armature II and by choosing reeds 21 of the vibrating frequency of musical tone, the armature winding II will be energized with impulses of musical tone frequency and, as will now be clear, will cause a musical tone to be emitted by the sound amplifying horn I.

My invention contemplates the employment of a single device 25, and in such case it will be clear that the tone emitted by the horn will be a more or less simple or single musical tone of any desired pitch determined by the periodicity of the reed 21. It is preferred, however, that a plurality of devices 25 be employed and in such case the reeds 21 are selected to have vibratory periodicity corresponding to the tones or notes of a musical chord, and thus the impulses energizing the armature winding l I will be current impules composed of a plurality such as four impulses of different frequency; that is to say, the current impulses will be composite impulses and the tone emitted by the horn I will be a tone of beautiful quality and harmonious effect.

In the form of my invention just described.

upon each closure of the switch 23, the her-- monious musical tone will be emitted from the horn The form of impulse-producing device, 25, above described is intended to be diagrammatic in order that it may conveniently be represented in the diagram. In practice I prefer to employ a device more generally like that illustrated in Figs. 3 and '1, wherein I have used reference characters so far as practicable the same as those of the devices 25 of Fig. 2. A main supporting frame 6|] which preferably may be made of non-metallic material has mounted therein a plurality such as four magnet cores of E-form 6| on the central pole of which is a winding 26. The frame has opposite spaced pairs of supports 62 and 63 to which are rigidly secured the opposite ends of vibratory reeds, 21, 21A,21B, 210. These reeds are of successively short length and greater width and greater thickness as plainly illustrated in Fig. 3, whereby they may have successively higher natural periods of vibration. The ends of each reed are secured to the supports 62 and 63 by screws 64 and 65 and under the head of the screw 64 may be provided an adjusting element 66 in the form of an elongated washer having an elongated slot therein, an end portion of the washer overlapping an adjacent portion of the reed. By varying the amount of the' overlap, the periodicity of the reed may be slightly adjustably varied. If preferred, also, a weight element 61 may be provided on the reed and constructed to permit its position to be adjustably changed longitudinally of the reed also for tuningpurposes.

A contact 30 is provided on a middle portion of the reed and a stationary contact 3| is provided upon an adjusting screw 32 in a stationary support 33 secured to the frame 66. The support 33 may be metallic and have a terminal connection 68 thereon. A wire 69 may lead from the circuit wire IT to the winding 26 and the wire 10 may lead therefrom to a ground on the reed 21.

The mode of operation will be apparent from the more complete description of the diagrammatic form of Fig. 2. Current flowing in at the wire l9 and through the contacts 303| and by way of the reed to the wire 10 and through the winding 26 to wire 69 to the wire II, will energize the winding 26 and separate the contacts 30-3l whereupon the reed 21 will retract and again close the contacts resulting in a rapid vibration of the reed and the production of current impulses. By means of the devices 66 and/or 61, the periodicity or tone of the reed may be adjusted to musical pitch; and, by the tuning means mentioned, the four reeds may be adjusted if desired to the frequency of four tones of a musical chord.

In Fig. 2, at 71 and 72 respectively, I have illustrated a condenser and a resistance bridged across the contacts 303|. By suitably providing capacitance and resistance in these devices, the sparking at the contacts 30--3|. may be reduced to the minimum. Such devices also, as will be obvious, may be used in connection with the vi-. brating device of Figs. 3 and 7.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, means is provided to produce any one of a plurality of musical tones by the horn l selectively, or any number of them from one to eight of different pitch and in unison, or to sound them individually or in combination in any desired succession or sequence to play tunes thereby.

The wire I-1 goes to a switch, such for example as a push button type of switch 40, and through that switch to a wire 4| connected to the ground and by a plurality such as eight connecting wires 42 to a corresponding plurality of push button switches 43 from each of which is an outgoing wire 44. Each of the wires 44 is connected to the electromagnet or electromagnets 26 of a device 25 such as that above described, having contacts 30 and 3|. The stationary contacts 3| are all connected to a wire 45 which in turn is connected to the wire IS.

The devices 25 are each provided with vibratory reeds 21 and 2'la to 2.'|g,.; and preferably these eight vibrating reeds are constructed and adjusted to vibrate with periodlcities varying from each other by intervals corresponding to the intervals between adjacent notes or tones of one octave of a musical scale.

In Fig. 5 is illustrated one form of a unitary controller or switch device 41 which I may employ embodying the push button switches 40 and 4343. It comprises a base 48 and a plurality such as eight push buttons 43 which may be disposed in a circular are as illustrated in the plan diagrammatic view of Fig. 4; and comprises also a push button device 40 which may conveniently be located at the center of the circular arc of the push buttons 43. The button 44 is also conveniently spaced .from the buttons 43 so that it may be depressed by the palm or the heel of the hand of an operator and while so depressed the thumb and fingers of the operators hand will lie conveniently over the buttons 43 whereby they may be pressed selectively, singly or in combina- -tion in the nature of a musical instrument key board.

In the operation of the system and apparatus illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the operator first closes the push button switch 40, as for example by the heel or palm of his hand as illustrated in Fig. 5. Current may then flow from the battery 2|,- the field winding l5 and by wire H and push button switch 40 and wire 4| to ground, energizing the field of the sound-producing device 2. Thereafter, upon pressing any one or any plurality of the push buttons 43, current will flow from the battery 2| through the armature winding II and by wires l9 and 45 will flow through the contacts 303| of a device or devices 25 through their energizing'windings 26 and through the corresponding push button switch 43 and by wires 42 and 4| to ground. The corresponding device or devices 25 will thereby be energized and each will eifect the production of current impulses in the armature winding ||,.and as was described in connection with the form of Figs. 1 to 3, will cause musical sound to be emitted from the horn I.

The degree of. energization-of the field winding l5 thus remains constant whether one or more of the devices 25 are energized. Furthermore, by a natural and convenient movement of the operators hand, thefleld may first be energized and then the current impulses transmitted to the armature windingl I.

If desired, in operating the device of Fig. 5, the push button switches 43 of a selected chord may first be depressed and then by pressing the button 40 this chord may be sounded on the horn.

Obviously, tunes may be played on the buttons 43-43, and for this reason it may be desirable to employ, as above referred to, eight devices 25 each corresponding to a note of an octave of a musical scale.

The details of the controller of Fig. 5 may be variously modified. In that figure one form .of contacting arrangement is illustrated. The push button 43 has a stem 50 slidable axially in a bore 5| formed in a boss 52 on the inner wall of the housing 13 of the controller. A spring 53 supports the button 43 in its retracted position, a

screw 54 securing the spring to the housing 13 r a screw 6 to the housing and the screw serving also as a terminal connection for the wire 44 of Fig. 4. on depressing the button 43 the end of the spring 53 contacts the element 55 to close the circuit above described.

If desired, a laterally extending pin 56' may be provided on the stem 50 of the button slidable in a groove 51 in the boss 52. By depressing the button suiilciently, the pin 56 may be rotated with the button to the position 58 of Fig. 6 where it underlies the inner surface of the boss 52 to hold the button in its depressed or contact engaged position.

This feature may be employed where it is desirable to be able to sound the horn merely by depressing the button 40. Any one or a combination of the buttons 43 thus may be depressed and rotated to selectively predetermine the sound to be produced by the horn, and thereafter that signal may instantly be produced by merely pressing the button 40'. In this aspect the result and general mode of operation will be the same as that for the form of Figs. 1 to 3, but has the advantage that the sound of the horn may be widely varied by the selection of buttons 43 to be fixed in the closed circuit position; and has the further advantage that the device of Figs. 5 and 6 may be operated as a keyboard instrument when the buttons 43 have all been released and allowed to take up their open circuit position.

In order that current may not flow through the armature winding pending depression of the switch 4|), when push buttons 43 are held in their closed position, a relay 15 may be provided normally .opening the line l3 and adapted to be closed by an electromagnetic device 16 energized by wires 11 and 18 upon closure of the switch 40.

As an alternative mode of eflecting this function, the arrangement of Fig. 9 may be employed. The core 19 of. the sound-producing device may have a magnetic resilient fiux shunting element 89 rigidly secured'at, one end to an extension 8| on the core 19 and disposed adjacent another projection 82 spaced therefrom. Upon energizing the winding l5, magnetic flux will fiow through the element 8!) and cause it to be attracted to the projection, 82 and this movement may be utilized to close the circuit of the armature winding l l by connecting one end .of the element 8!] to the line l8 by a wire 83, and providing a contact 84 on the element engageable when so attracted with a contact 85 to which is connected the line 20.

In the modification of my invention illustrated in Fig. 8, I have illustrated a system generally similar to that of Fig. 2. In this form, however, a diilerent type of vibratory contact device is indicated. A permanent magnet 99 is employed for each vibrator having a central pole' 9| and lateral poles 92 -92. A winding 93 is secured to a vibratory diaphragm or reed device 94 and surrounds the end portion of the pole 9| between the poles 92. A contact 95 on a central portion of. the diaphragm 94 normally engages a stationary contact 96 on an adjusting screw 91. Current in the line l9 may flow by a Wire 98 through the winding 93 to the diaphragm or reed 94, thence through the contact 95 to the contact 96 and screw 91, from which a wire 99 leads to a wire I and thence to ground through the switch device 23 as in the form of Fig. 2.

The winding 93 is thereby caused to move to draw the reed 94 in' the direction to separate the contacts -96 and break the energizing circuit in the winding 93, thus setting up a rapid vibration and causing impulses of current to ilow. Otherwise the operation of the form of Fig. 8 is the same as that of Fig. 2. The device just described may be indicated generally by the refer ence character I92 and a plurality, such as four, of such devices Hi2 may be provided as indicated in Fig. 8. Thus the impulse energizing the armature winding Il may be a composite of four harmonic impulses.

Whereas in the foregoing specification and in the appended claims I have referred to the apparatus as producing musical tone frequency and to the sound producing device as emitting musical tones, it is not to be inferred that my invention is limited to the production of signal tones having the aesthetic quality usually associated with the word musical; and such expressions as musical tone in the appended claims are to be taken as meaning any defined tone of definite frequency which can be audibly produced as a signal.

My invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope and spirit of my invention without sacrificing its advantages.

I claim:

1. In an electric signaling system and apparatus, an electrically actuable sound-producing means responsive to undulatory electric current of musical tone frequency to produce a musical tone and comprising an electrically energizable magnetic field producing element and an electrically energizable armature element, a source of electric current, an armature circuit and a separate field circuit including the current source, current controller means comprising an electrically actuable device for producing undulatory current in said armature circuit of a predetermined frequency, an .electrically actuable switch controlling the armature circuit, a single operable means for controlling the energization of the field circuit and actuation of said switch.

2. In an electric signaling system and apparatus, an electrically actuable sound-producing means responsive to undulatory electric current of musical tone frequency to produce a musical tone and comprising an electrically energizable magnetic field producing element and an electrically energizable armature element, a source of electric current, a normally open armature circuit and a separate normally open field circuit including the current source, current controller means for producing undulatory current in the armature circuit of said frequency comprising a plurality of electrically actuable vibratory contact devices each having a different predetermined frequency of vibration, a plurality of selectively operable switches for controlling the actuation of the vibratory contact devices selectively and a single operable switch for effecting closing'of the field circuit concurrently with operation of one or more of the selectively operable switches.

3. In an electric signaling system and apparatus, an electrically actuable sound-producing means responsive to undulatory electric current of musical tone frequency to produce a musical tone and comprising an electrically energizable magnetic field producing element and an electrically energizable armature element, a source of electric current, an armature circuit and a separate field circuit including the current source, current controller means comprising a plurality of electrically energizable vibratory contact devices in the armature circuit and a plurality of switch means for selectively energizing the devices for selectively producing undulating currents in the armature circuit of different musical tone-producing frequencies to selectively effect the production of differentmusical tones, an electrically operable switch controlling the armature circuit, and operable switch means for controlling energization of the field circuit and said switch independently of the armature circuit.

4. In an electric signaling system and apparatus, an electrically actuable sound-producing means responsive to undulatory electric current of musical tone frequency to produce a musical tone and comprising an electrically energizable magnetic field producing element and an electrically energizable armature element, a source of electric current, an armature circuit and a separate field circuit including the current source, current controller means comprising a plurality of electrically energizable vibratory contact devices in the armature circuit for selectively producing undulating currents in the armature circuit of different musical tone-producing frequencies to selectively effect the production of different musical tones, and a plurality of operable switch means provided with operable means for optionally retaining them in operated condition for selectively energizing when operated the electrically energizable devices, an electrically actuable switch controlling the armature circuit and a single separate operable switch means for effecting operation of theelectrically actuable switch and energization of the field ci r cuit, independently of energization of the armature circuit.

5. In an electric signaling system and apparatus, an electrically actuable sound-producing means responsive to undulatory electric current of musical tone frequency to produce a musical tone, and comprising an electrically energizable magnetic field producing element and an electrically energizable armature element, a source of electric current, an armature circuit and a separate field circuit including the current source, controller means comprising an electrically' actuable vibratory contact device having a predetermined fixed periodicity for producing undulatory current in the said armature circuit of said frequency, an electrically actuable switch controlling the armature circuit, operable means for controlling the actuation of the controller means and separate operable means for controlling the energization of the field circuit and said switch independently of energization of the armature circuit.

6. In an electric signaling system and apparatus, an electrically actuable sound-producing means responsive to undulatory electric current of musical tone frequency to produce a musical tone, a field circuit for the sound-producing means, an energizing circuit for the sound-producing means, an electrically actuable device for producing in the energizing circuit undulating electric currents of musical tone frequency, an electro-magnetic switch controlling the energizing circuit, and a master switch controlling both the field circuit and operation of the electromagnetic switch.

'7. In an electric signaling system and apparatus, an electrically actuable sound producing means responsive to undulatory electric current of predetermined frequency to produce tone, and comprising an electrically energizable magnetic field producing element and an electrically energizable armature element, a source of electric current, an armature circuit and a separate field circuit including'the current source, controller means for producing undulatory current in the said armature circuit 0! said frequency, an electrically actuable switch controlling the armature circuit, operable means for controlling the actuation of the controller means, and separate operable means for controlling the energization of the field circuit and said switch independently of energization of the armature circuit.

8. In an electric signaling system, an electric circuit comprising in series relation a source of current, a master switch, and three parallel circuit branches, an electrically actuable sound-producing means comprising an undulatory current responsive armature in one branch and comprising a field in another branch and a switch having a winding in the third branch the switch having contacts controlling the said armature branch, a plurality of devices and a corresponding plurality of conductors connected to the armature branch for producing in said branch and in the armature selectively a plurality of undulatory electric currents of sound-producing frequency, selective switches controlling the conductors respectively, to cause the sound producing means, to

produce sound under joint control of said master switch and selective switches.

9. A signaling system as described in claim 8 and in which the undulatory electric current producing devices are electrically actuable by current in the said armature branch.

10. In an electric signaling system, an electric circuit comprising in series relation a source of current, a master switch, and a pair of parallel circuit branches, an electrically actuable sound producing means comprising an undulatory current responsive armature in one branch and comprising a field in another branch, a switch having --contacts controlling the said armature branch and electro-magnetically operable by the said field, a plurality of devices and a corresponding plurality of conductors connected to the armature branch for producing in said branch and in the armature selectively a plurality of undulatory electric currents of sound producing frequency, selective switches controlling the conductors respectively, to cause said sound producing means, to produce sound under joint control of said master switch and said selective switches.

HOWARD J. FINDLEY. 

